Telefónica Tech and ARME establish a robotics hub

Telefónica Tech has partnered with the Spanish Mobile Robotics Association (ARME) to establish a mobile robotics technology hub.

The purpose of the collaboration is to create an environment where companies from the technology and industrial sectors can collaborate on research, innovation, and co-creation of solutions to advance the field of robotics.

The mobile robotics technology hub will be housed within The ThinX, Telefónica Tech's IoT and Big Data applied...

13 June 2023 | Applications

Oxbotica raises $140M to expand its B2B autonomous vehicle platform

B2B autonomous vehicle platform developer Oxbotica has raised a further $140 million.

The Oxford-based firm plans to use the funds to advance its goal of creating “universal autonomy” around the world.

Paul Newman, CTO and a Founder of Oxbotica, said:

“Oxbotica was founded eight years ago on the vision of Universal Autonomy—providing safe and sustainable autonomy that is independent of workplace and vehicle type.

With the greatest engineering...

11 January 2023 | Connected Vehicles

Industrial robots increase unemployment and lower wages

Research from China justifies concerns about the impact of industrial robots on the workforce.

Critics of automation believe it will replace many predominately blue-collar jobs. Proponents of industrial robots argue that new jobs will be created and the workforce will adapt.

At least in the short term, a paper from China backs the critics.

The paper, How Do Workers And Households Adjust To Robots, analysed the effects of exposure to industrial robots on labour...

6 December 2022 | Industrial IoT (IIoT)

Robot makers pledge not to weaponise their creations

A growing number of robot makers are pledging not to weaponise their creations.

This week, an open letter – currently signed by six robotics companies – pledges not to support the use of their creations for deadly purposes.

Here’s a copy of the full letter:

“General Purpose Robots Should Not Be Weaponized

We are some of the world’s leading companies dedicated to introducing new generations of advanced mobile robotics to society. These new...

7 October 2022 | AI

Musk: Tesla’s robot will be ‘worth more than the car business’

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made the bold statement that the company’s robot will be “worth more than the car business”.

The company surprised many when it announced its ‘Optimus’ robot during its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Day event on 19 August 2021:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUP6Z5voiS8

The pitch for the 5'8" and 57kg humanoid robot was that it would take on tasks that are "dangerous, repetitive, and boring" like providing assistance in...

21 April 2022 | IoT

Survey: Adoption of digital transformation tech is accelerating

According to a survey of UK leaders conducted by bluQube, the adoption of digital transformation technologies is accelerating.

“So-called ‘future’ technologies, such as robotics or the Internet of Things, have now firmly entered the mainstream for businesses looking to grow and stand out from the chasing pack,” commented Simon Kearsley, CEO of bluQube.

Almost three-quarters (72%) of business leaders report their organisations have adopted mobile technology. An...

13 April 2022 | Digital Transformation

Cyberselves reaches finals of global competition for ‘teleporting’ humans into sense-relaying robots

UK robotics firm Cyberselves has reached the finals of a global robotics competition for its tech which “teleports” humans into robots that can relay what they see, hear, and feel.

The Sheffield-based company entered the prestigious Avatar XPRIZE global robotics competition and is one of just two British firms to make it to the finals. The other company is Edinburgh-based Touchlab.

Daniel Camilleri, Co-Founder and CTO at Cyberselves, said:

“We are...

23 November 2021 | IoT

Liverpool to become a global drones leader following project launch

Liverpool is set to become a global leader in drones following the launch of a unique test and development area.

The project, a collaboration between the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and the Drone Major Group, is called Phoenix I and represents the first part of a larger initiative of interconnected projects designed to establish Liverpool as a leader in drones.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“The Liverpool...

26 March 2021 | IoT

Robotics4EU wants input to guide Europe’s robot future

A three-year EU project funded by the Horizon 2020 programme called Robotics4EU wants input from the community to guide Europe’s robot future.

Robotics4EU aims to boost the adoption of robotics in Europe across a continent that is becoming increasingly sceptical of autonomous systems.

The initiative has released two surveys aimed at different stakeholders:

Robotics development community: https://www.research.net/r/3VQ6VXLPolicy and decision-makers:...

22 March 2021 | Enterprise

Construction begins on £22.4 million National Robotarium in the UK

The UK has begun construction of a £22.4 million National Robotarium in Edinburgh which aims to solidify the country as a leader in AI and robotics.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said:

“The creation of the UK’s first National Robotarium in Edinburgh will place Scotland at the forefront of a technological revolution that is changing the way we work.

This exciting new facility, supported by £21 million from the UK Government, will create...

4 March 2021 | AI